list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.11.2002

Okay, this looks to be one of those ridiculously busy musical weeks. Lots and lots to choose from, particularly this weekend. And I apologize if I forget your favorite bands, which last week, included The Blasters at Fitzgerald's and Future Bible Heroes at Schuba's. On with the shows!

Pick of the week
Again, it's a no-brainer this week. Peter Gabriel kicks off his first full tour in nine or ten years right here in Chicago with shows on Tuesday and Thursday. Even Monica Kendrick had good things to say about him, and she hates everything that's actually in the mainstream. That said, PG seems lacking in actual conduits to his audience, as radio has fragmented in such a way that the slightly older, less "modern rock" crowd is generally stuck with lighter fare. Chicago is a bit of an exception with WXRT, and as a result, the first show sold out quickly in spite of the high ticket prices. Tickets are still available for Thursday night.

Recap
I caught The Blank Theory's acoustic show on Wednesday, which was amusing for reasons generally not having to do with the performance itself. One of which was former Avalon owner Roger Jansen getting a big kick out of my "older model" Avalon VIP card. The acoustic sets didn't seem to shed any additional light on either the headliners or Swidden, but they weren't bad by any stretch. Then it was Marigold Engine on Saturday, which was a good, solid set. I was talking to the soundman at Elbo Room, and he commented on how you don't see bands just get up there and deliver anymore. There's all this posing and jumping and whatnot, so it was nice to see them more focused on the music. And the drummer was excellent, so I'm not going to begrudge them going with him over me at all.

The Lindsie Rietz show on Saturday was, how shall we say, approximate at best, but to our credit, it still rocked mightily.

11.11   monday
Long Count Quartet (Joy Blue)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Okay, since I effed up the newsletter last week and didn't get it out until Thursday, none of you knew about this in time. Well, lucky for you, these guys are here every week. Go see 'em.

11.12   tuesday
Peter Gabriel with The Blind Boys of Alabama and Hukwe Zawose (United Center)
Have I mentioned how excited I am about this? While Up, Gabriel's first full album of original songs since I was in college, gets a little soft in the middle, it also touches on the darkness of his third self-titled album (with the melting face) and the subsequent Security. I've heard it describes as Us-meets-melting-face, and that seems pretty accurate. I'm very curious as to what songs make the set list, and only less so about the scope of the production itself.

Lindsie Reitz with Regal Standard (Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier)   SEE COZ LIVE!
If you work downtown, you may want to catch this acoustic set afterwards, which is part of a photography installation, I think. We go on at 5:30.

No open mike for me this week, between the Lindsie show and Peter Gabriel.

11.13   wednesday
The Soundtrack of Our Lives with Citizen Bird and Cato Salsa Experience (Metro)
These guys were recommended very strongly to me last time they were here, and I didn't go see them, so here they are again.

The Hot Machines, The Reveonettes, The Blackouts and The Whiteouts (Double Door)
This show is much more amusing when you look at it in the Reader ad. All total, there are some 13 bands starting with the word "The" spanning about eight days worth of shows, and the visual effect is very noticeable. I have no idea what any of these band sound like, though.

11.14   thursday
Peter Gabriel with The Blind Boys of Alabama and Hukwe Zawose (United Center)
See Tuesday for details. This one, however, still has tickets available.

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic (House of Blues)
The godfather of funk is back, and it's mildly interesting that he's calling the band P-Funk outright these days, after about ten years or so of being the "P-Funk Allstars." To this day, I still haven't lasted through an entire marathon set from these guys, although I don't count Taste of Chicago in that count, because it's just not the same.

11.15   friday
Bernie Worrell and the Woo Warriors (Subterranean)
Missed P-Funk on Thursday? Hate House of Blues? Well, Bernie Worrell is, quite literally, the next best thing.

Drive, Lyla Stone and Ivory Wire (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I didn't realize until the last time I saw them that Drive included the man behind the board for most of the URT recording, one Josh Shapera. These guys are mining that heavy, thick stoner rock sound to great effect, and have I mentioned that Kevin really likes Lyla Stone?

Hayseed Dixie with the John Cowan Band (Joe's)
Say it out loud, and you'll have a headstart on figuring out what these guys are up do, which is apparently a bluegrass take on AC/DC. Could be interesting, could be a train wreck.

11.16   saturday
"Speed Musician" (Schuba's)
This afternoon event is apparently taking the concept of music business schmoozing and glomming it onto speed dating, where you get a series of short conversations with everyone in the room. I'm curious, although probably not enough to actually participate. Much like speed dating, now that I think about it.

John Mayer (UIC Pavilion)
This show is sold out, but if you're not averse to scalpers, or have friends with extras, will probably be worth it. Mayer strikes me as a jazzier Dave Matthews, and I mean that in a positive way. He's also simultaneously more innocent and a bit more personal. Don't know how that will translate to the unintimate confines of the Pavilion (where I've actually never been), though.

11.17   sunday
Thievery Corporation (Park West)
As their name implies, these guys build electronica around sampling other people. I've read a bit about them, but haven't actually heard them, which is sort of my stock answer for everything. The All-Music Guide compares them favorably to Kruder and Dorfmeister.

Porcupine Tree (Martyr's)
This is one of those newer progressive rock bands that you would think I should know something about, but don't. However, I have a lot of faith in Ray Quinn and Martyr's when it comes to this kind of thing, so I may check it out anyway.